Fairfield Stags
Encyclopedia
The Fairfield Stags are the athletic programs representing Fairfield University
in Fairfield, Connecticut
. Most of the programs are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
(MAAC) and classified as Division I-AAA in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
. Fairfield sponsors 20 varsity sports - baseball
, men's and women's basketball
, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country, field hockey
, men's and women's golf
, men's and women's
lacrosse
, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis
, and women's volleyball
.
Fairfield annually boasts among the best student-athlete graduation rates in the nation and has been honored by the NCAA with numerous Public Recognition Awards for the academic performance of sports teams among the top ten percent of squads in their respective sports nationwide. The men's and women's golf programs are both ranked among the best in the nation for academics, according to Golf Digest.
With the dawn of the first athletic team (cross country) in the fall of 1947, it became apparent that a nickname would be needed. For the 1947-48 season, Fairfield University adopted the "Men In Red" as its nickname.
The following year, the University introduced men's basketball as its next team and its first varsity sport. With the start of varsity sports, the school put it to the students for input in naming of a school mascot. Two recommendations were made to the Board of Trustees for an official decision and vote. As the late Fr. Charles F. Duffy S.J. recounted: "As a member of the Board of Trustees, I remember voting at a board meeting late in 1948 on the naming for our athletic teams. We voted for Stags over Chanticleers!"
What made the decision for the Board a bit easier and logical was the fact that the school was part of the Dioceses of Hartford and the word Hartford means stags (hart) and stream (ford). According to Webster's New World Dictionary the word "hart" means "A male of the European red deer
; stag." As for the world "ford" Webster describes it as "A shallow place in a stream, river, etc."
As a result, Fairfield University's seal itself was designed featuring a deer leaping over a tumbling brook to represent both the school's connection with the Dioceses as well with its close ties with nature.
Fairfield is situated on a rolling, immensely wooded 200 acre (0.809372 km²) campus overlooking Long Island Sound. The name fits well as a nickname because the Stag is a good jumper and it spirited and agile, as Fairfield would like all of its student-athletes to be.
(APR). In the past several years the NCAA has honored many Fairfield University sports teams for their academic performance with Public Recognition Awards. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports nationwide.
The Fairfield Stags men's baseball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
of NCAA Division I and plays their home games at the Alumni Baseball Diamond
on the campus of Fairfield University
. Fairfield fielded its first varsity baseball team in 1951, winning 7 of 12 games. The Stags, coached by Don Cook, made the first of three straight trips to the ECAC New England Tournament in 1977, defeating defending champion University of Maine. The team was MAAC South Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. Individually, Anthony Hajjar was named a 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American; Peter Allen was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List following his program record setting season in 2007 in which he was ranked nationally in doubles, batting average, and slugging percentage; and Mike Pike was named a 1993 Mizuno Freshman All-American. Keefe Cato
, the holder of ten Fairfield pitching records including seven career shutouts and one no-hitter, was the first Fairfield athlete to play in a major professional sport on the major league level after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds
in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
. He was the Reds’ winning pitcher in his second game. And Rob Gariano, who surpassed Cato's 31 year stand as Fairfield’s all-time strikeout leader with 293 strikeouts was drafted in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
by the San Diego Padres
. The Stags are currently coached by two-time MAAC Coach of the Year John Slosar.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard
in Bridgeport, Connecticut and recently played two games in Alumni Hall
back on the campus of Fairfield University
during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. The team competed in the National Invitational Tournament in 1973
, 1974
, 1978
, 1996
and 2003
and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1986
, 1987
and 1997
. In the 1973 National Invitation Tournament
, the Stags advanced to the second round where the team lost by one point to eventual National Champion Virginia Tech. And in the 1997 NCAA Tournament
, the Stags nearly achieved a historic upset of top-seeded North Carolina after leading the Tar Heels by seven points at halftime. The team also won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 1986 and the MAAC Championship Tournament in 1986, 1987 and 1997. Individually, Joe DeSantis
earned All-American honors in 1979; Darren Phillip
was the nation's top rebounder in 2001 averaging 14 rebounds per game; and Deng Gai
was the nation's top shot blocker in 2005 averaging 5.5 blocks per game ranking him 5th all-time in NCAA Division I basketball. The Stags are currently coached by Sydney Johnson
.
of NCAA Division I-AA between 1996 and 2003. Following the team's inaugural season, the 1997 team recorded the second-best single-season turnaround in Division I-AA history posting a 7-3 mark. The Stags won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in 1998 posting a 9-2 record and head coach Kevin Kiesel
captured the league's Coach of the Year Award. Fairfield also had the top-rated Division I-AA defense for rushing (61.7 y.p.g.) and for total yards (213.8 y.p.g.). The 1999 team also went 9-2 and ranked fifth among the nation's Division I-AA non-scholarship teams. The defense was ranked second for scoring defense (13.4 p.p.g) and for total defense (237.7 y.p.g.). The 2000 team compiled an 8-2 record and ranked seventh in the country.
In total, seven Fairfield players earned All-American honors, and one player received Academic All-American honors. During the 2000 season, senior Steve Dogmanits (Fairfield's all-time leader in interceptions with 21) set a school-standard of 11. This was enough to lead all of Division I-AA, just missing the national record (12) set in 1987 by Dean Cain
of Princeton University
and "Lois & Clark" fame.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
on the campus of Fairfield University
. The team was nationally ranked in 2005 (15th), 2006 (20th) and 2007 (12th) and competed in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament
in 2002
and 2005
. The Stags also won the ECAC Tournament in 1998 and 1999 and were Conference Regular Season Champions in the MAAC three times (1996–1998) and the GWLL
twice (2002 and 2005). Individually, C. J. Kemp
in 2002 and Greg Downing
in 2005, 2006 and 2007 earned All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by 2004 MAAC Coach of the Year Andrew Copelan
.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
on the campus of Fairfield University
. The team was ranked nationally in 1998 (24th), 2000 (15th), 2001 (12th), 2005 (24th), 2006 (15th) and 2007 (17th) and competed in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament
in 1999, 2006
, and 2008
. The 2006 team advanced to the second round in the NCAA Tournament after defeating in-state rival University of Connecticut, 2-1. The team also won the MAAC Championship Tournament in 1999, 2006 and 2008. Individually, eleven players have earned Regional All-American honors including Mark Longwell '82 who was the first Stag to go on to play for the United States men's national soccer team
and major professional soccer for the NASL
Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Stags are currently coached by 1998 NSCAA
New England Coach of the Year Carl Rees
.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard
in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Under former coach Diane Nolan, who reached her milestone 500th win in 2006, the Stags competed in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1988
, 1991
, 1998
, and 2001
. Individually, Katrina Fields in 1985, Dana Pellegrino in 1987 and 1988 and Lisa Mikelic in 1991 earned All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Joe Frager, who previously coached the Southern Connecticut State University
Owls to the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Title
.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at University Field on the campus of Fairfield University. The team competed in the 1981 NCAA Division III EAIAW Regional Playoffs and the 2001 NCAA Women's Field Hockey Championship
. The team also won the Patriot League
Regular Season Title in 1998 and the Patriot League
Tournament Championship in 2001. Individually, Mary Beth Combs received the Connecticut NCAA Woman of the Year Award
in 1993 and ten players have earned NFHCA Mideast Regional All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Jackie Kane '87.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
on the campus of Fairfield University. The team competed in the 2009 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship
challenging the Ivy League Champion Penn Quakers
before falling 10-8 in the first round. The Stags won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009 the MAAC Tournament Championship in 2001 and 2009. Individually, Kristen Coleman earned All-America Third Team in 2009; and Lauren Uhr in 2002, Beth Loffredo in 2006, Kristen Coleman in 2008, and Rebecca White in 2009 earned Regional All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee and 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year, Michael J. Waldvogel
.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
on the campus of Fairfield University. The team has advanced five times to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament
, most recently in 2005 and 2008. The team has also won the MAAC Championship seven times (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2008). Individually, Abby Allan in 2000, Meghan King in 2004 and Ahna Johnson in 2008 earned All-America honors; Ahna Johnson in 2008 earned Academic All-America honors; Betsy Nyman in 2007 earned Regional Academic All-America honors; and Nicole Cavallaro in 2007 received Freshman All-America honors. In 2010, Brett Maron
became the first former Fairfield player to sign a professional contract in the United States with the Atlanta Beat of the Women's Professional Soccer
league. The Stags are currently coached by 2008 NSCAA
Northeast Region Coach of the Year Jim O'Brien.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Alumni Softball Field on the campus of Fairfield University. The team won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Individually, in 2003 Mellissa Santos became the 16th player in Division I history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts and is currently ranked 23rd all-time on the NCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts list
. And Jen Derouin in 1988 and Tara Hansen in 2006 earned Academic All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Julie Brzezinski who achieved her 500th career win in 2006.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home matches at the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts on the campus of Fairfield University. The Stags have earned three berths to the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship
and have won nine MAAC Championships in program history. The Stags faced the University of Washington
during the 2004 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship, the University of Southern California
during the 2009 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship and eventual National Champion Stanford University
during the 2010 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. The Stags are currently coached by 2008 MAAC Coach of the Year Ed Paige.
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home matches at Alumni Hall
on the campus of Fairfield University
. The team was nationally ranked in 1998 (24th) and 1999 (32nd) and competed in five straight NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournaments
between 1997 and 2001. The team has also won the MAAC Regular Season Title nine times (1996–2000 and 2004–2007) and the MAAC Championship Tournament five times (1997–2001). Individually, Renee O’Neill earned Academic All-American honors in 1989 and Joanne Saunders earned Regional All-American honors in 2000. The Stags are currently coached by Alija Pittenger.
The hockey program was elevated to varsity status for the 1974-75 season under Dr. John McCarthy and posted an 18-8-1 mark that year. The Stags were a founding member of the MAAC Hockey League in 1998, and the team’s best record in the MAAC came in 2000-2001 with a 10-14-2 mark. They posted a 275-414-28 record in varsity play, heading into the 2002-03 season. The team was disbanded by the University due to financial reasons after the 2002-03 season.
Hockey as a club sport returned to the University during the 2003-04 season. The 2004-2005 squad finished the regular season with a 12-2-1-1 regular season record and fell just a game short of the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference
(MCHC) championship. The 2003-2004 squad finished their season in second place and made it all the way to the league championship. And the 2005-2006 Stags posted a 20-4-0-0 record in the and reached the league semifinals for the third straight season. The 2007-2008 club finished with an overall record of 20-9, qualifying for a trip to Rochester, Minnesota to compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association
(ACHA) National Championships. The Stags finished their championship run with a 6-3 victory over Old Dominion, compiling a 1-3 record at the national event. And the 2009-2010 season began with the team competing in the newly formed Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference.
The home ice of Fairfield hockey is the Wonderland on Ice in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Stags currently are coached by head coach Marshall Richards and assistant coach Corey McGee.
. The nickname for the FURFC is the Red Ruggers. Brad Troup '03 and Will Brazier '05
were USA Rugby Collegiate All-Americans, Honorable Mention. And two former Red Ruggers represented the United States in international competition, Paul Sheehy
with the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
and Will Brazier
with the USA Tomahawks
and USA Falcons
. The Coach of the Red Ruggers is Matt Leonard.
The Thomas J. Walsh Athletic Center is 51000 square feet (4,738.1 m²) structure catering to the academic and athletic needs of Fairfield student-athletes with a high-tech academic study center, practice gymnasium, state-of-the-art locker rooms for all athletic teams and a 4700 square feet (436.6 m²) weight training center.
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. Most of the programs are members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
(MAAC) and classified as Division I-AAA in the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
. Fairfield sponsors 20 varsity sports - baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, men's and women's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, men's and women's crew, men's and women's cross country, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, men's and women's golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, men's and women's
Women's lacrosse
Women's lacrosse, sometimes shortened to wlax or lax, is a sport played with twelve players on each team. Originally played by the indigenous peoples of the Americas, the first tribe to play it was the Hauser tribe, of the Great Plains. The modern women's game was introduced in 1890 at the St...
lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, and women's volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
.
Fairfield annually boasts among the best student-athlete graduation rates in the nation and has been honored by the NCAA with numerous Public Recognition Awards for the academic performance of sports teams among the top ten percent of squads in their respective sports nationwide. The men's and women's golf programs are both ranked among the best in the nation for academics, according to Golf Digest.
History of the Stag
The following year, the University introduced men's basketball as its next team and its first varsity sport. With the start of varsity sports, the school put it to the students for input in naming of a school mascot. Two recommendations were made to the Board of Trustees for an official decision and vote. As the late Fr. Charles F. Duffy S.J. recounted: "As a member of the Board of Trustees, I remember voting at a board meeting late in 1948 on the naming for our athletic teams. We voted for Stags over Chanticleers!"
What made the decision for the Board a bit easier and logical was the fact that the school was part of the Dioceses of Hartford and the word Hartford means stags (hart) and stream (ford). According to Webster's New World Dictionary the word "hart" means "A male of the European red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
; stag." As for the world "ford" Webster describes it as "A shallow place in a stream, river, etc."
As a result, Fairfield University's seal itself was designed featuring a deer leaping over a tumbling brook to represent both the school's connection with the Dioceses as well with its close ties with nature.
Fairfield is situated on a rolling, immensely wooded 200 acre (0.809372 km²) campus overlooking Long Island Sound. The name fits well as a nickname because the Stag is a good jumper and it spirited and agile, as Fairfield would like all of its student-athletes to be.
"The Fairfield University Fight Song"
- Written by Prof. Brian Q. TorffBrian Q. TorffBrian Q. Torff is a US jazz double-bassist and composer. He is currently a music program director at Fairfield University in Connecticut. The Fairfield Arts Council named Torff its 2008 Artist of the Year.-Teacher:...
during the 1995-96 academic year for a contest sponsored by the Fairfield University Student Association.
- Come catch the spirit, Fairfield U.
- For all to hear it, Fairfield U.
- Red and White will always conquer,
- Go for the winner 'till the end, and so we’ll
- Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight for Fairfield U.,
- Each day and night our hearts will be true,
- And all across the land we'll always stand by Fairfield U.
- And all across the land we'll always stand by Fairfield U!
"The Men in Red"
- Written by Rudy Ross '51 when Fairfield was an all-male institution.
- The men in Red will always fight for Fairfield.
- The men in Red will fight tonight for Fairfield.
- We'll stick out our chin, and we'll wind up with win, with a grin.
- The men in Red will raise a shout for Fairfield.
- The men in Red will go all out for Fairfield,
- As we go on rolling up the score for dear old Fairfield ever more.
Public Recognition Awards
Fairfield University athletes are among the most academically successful in the nation, according to the NCAA's Academic Progress RateAcademic Progress Rate
The Academic Progress Rate, sometimes also known as Academic Performance Rating and generally abbreviated as APR, is a metric established by the NCAA to indicate the success of collegiate athletic teams in moving student athletes towards graduation . It was instituted in February of 2005...
(APR). In the past several years the NCAA has honored many Fairfield University sports teams for their academic performance with Public Recognition Awards. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports nationwide.
| Year | Awards | Men's Teams | Women's Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07 | 8 | Baseball Cross Country Tennis |
Crew Golf Soccer Softball Swimming |
| 2007-08 | 7 | Baseball Cross Country Tennis |
Basketball Golf Rowing Softball |
| 2008-09 | 5 | Baseball Cross Country Tennis |
Softball Tennis |
Academic awards
The following Fairfield scholar-athletes were honored on the national level for their academic and athletic achievements:- Michael Bell '06, basketball - Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Team, Honorable Mention
- Mary Beth Combs '93, field hockey - Connecticut NCAA Woman of the Year AwardNCAA Woman of the Year AwardThe NCAA Woman of the Year Award was created to honor a senior female student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Each year, ten finalists are selected from a larger pool of...
- Jen Derouin '88, softball - CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2nd Team
- Adam Ferreri '00, football - CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2nd Team
- Tara Hansen '06, softball - CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2nd Team
- Ahna Johnson '09, soccer - CoSIDA Academic All-American, 1st Team; NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American, 1st Team
- Meghan King '04, soccer - CoSIDA Academic All-American, District I, 2nd Team
- Michele Menzo '87, softball - two time CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2nd Team
- Betsy Nyman '07, soccer - NSCAA/adidas Scholar All-American, East Region, 3rd Team
- Renee O’Neill '89, volleyball - GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American
- Dana D. Pellegrino '88, basketball - GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American, District I
- Balazs Szikla '08, tennis - three time Intercollegiate Tennis AssociationIntercollegiate Tennis AssociationThe Intercollegiate Tennis Association is an organization of 1,500 coaches and 15,000 collegiate tennis players, encompassing more than 1,000 college tennis programs...
Scholar Athlete
Baseball
The Fairfield Stags men's baseball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I and plays their home games at the Alumni Baseball Diamond
Alumni Baseball Diamond
Alumni Baseball Diamond is a baseball stadium in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is the home field of the Fairfield Stags baseball team representing Fairfield University....
on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. Fairfield fielded its first varsity baseball team in 1951, winning 7 of 12 games. The Stags, coached by Don Cook, made the first of three straight trips to the ECAC New England Tournament in 1977, defeating defending champion University of Maine. The team was MAAC South Champions in 1983, 1991, 1993, 1995 and 1997. Individually, Anthony Hajjar was named a 2010 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American; Peter Allen was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch List following his program record setting season in 2007 in which he was ranked nationally in doubles, batting average, and slugging percentage; and Mike Pike was named a 1993 Mizuno Freshman All-American. Keefe Cato
Keefe Cato
John Keefe Cato is a former relief pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds both in 1983 and 1984....
, the holder of ten Fairfield pitching records including seven career shutouts and one no-hitter, was the first Fairfield athlete to play in a major professional sport on the major league level after being selected by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the second round of the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft
1979 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1979 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 5-7, 1979, via conference call.-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1979 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :...
. He was the Reds’ winning pitcher in his second game. And Rob Gariano, who surpassed Cato's 31 year stand as Fairfield’s all-time strikeout leader with 293 strikeouts was drafted in the 36th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft
2010 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2010 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held on June 7–9, 2010 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.-First-round selections:The draft order was determined based on the 2009 MLB standings, with the worst team picking first.Key...
by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. The Stags are currently coached by two-time MAAC Coach of the Year John Slosar.
Basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard
Arena at Harbor Yard
The Webster Bank Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena at 600 Main Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut, built alongside The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Arena opened on October 10, 2001 and is managed by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Centerplate...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut and recently played two games in Alumni Hall
Alumni Hall (Fairfield University)
Alumni Hall is a 2,479 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The facility opened on December 5, 1959 and is one of the earliest prestressed concrete structures of its kind ever attempted...
back on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. The team competed in the National Invitational Tournament in 1973
1973 National Invitation Tournament
The 1973 National Invitation Tournament was the 1973 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
, 1974
1974 National Invitation Tournament
The 1974 National Invitation Tournament was the 1974 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
, 1978
1978 National Invitation Tournament
The 1978 National Invitation Tournament was the 1978 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
, 1996
1996 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Tulane 87, Alabama 76...
and 2003
2003 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Texas Tech 71, Minnesota 61St. John's later vacated the title due to an ineligible player....
and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1986
1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
, 1987
1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1987 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
and 1997
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. In the 1973 National Invitation Tournament
1973 National Invitation Tournament
The 1973 National Invitation Tournament was the 1973 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition.-Selected teams:Below is a list of the 16 teams selected for the tournament.-Brackets/Results:Below is the tournament bracket....
, the Stags advanced to the second round where the team lost by one point to eventual National Champion Virginia Tech. And in the 1997 NCAA Tournament
1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, the Stags nearly achieved a historic upset of top-seeded North Carolina after leading the Tar Heels by seven points at halftime. The team also won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 1986 and the MAAC Championship Tournament in 1986, 1987 and 1997. Individually, Joe DeSantis
Joe DeSantis
Joe DeSantis is currently the color commentator for the radio and TV broadcasts of Fairfield Stags men's basketball and is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame...
earned All-American honors in 1979; Darren Phillip
Darren Phillip
Darren Phillip is an American professional basketball player with Ford Burgos in the Spanish LEB Oro. Phillip a.k.a. "Primal Fear" is also a well known streetball player on the basketball courts of the New York City summer leagues...
was the nation's top rebounder in 2001 averaging 14 rebounds per game; and Deng Gai
Deng Gai
Deng Gai is a South Sudanese professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He plays as a power forward. Gai was the 2005 NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leader.-College basketball:...
was the nation's top shot blocker in 2005 averaging 5.5 blocks per game ranking him 5th all-time in NCAA Division I basketball. The Stags are currently coached by Sydney Johnson
Sydney Johnson
Sydney Johnson is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach at Fairfield University for the Fairfield Stags men's basketball team. Previously, Johnson was the head coach at Princeton University from 2007 to 2011 where he led the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team to the...
.
Cross Country
The Fairfield Stags cross country team is the oldest athletics program at the University, dating back to 1947. The Rev. Victor Leeber, S.J. founded the team and is the namesake of the annual Father Leeber Invitational hosted by the University and held on the campus grounds. Members of the Fairfield University Hall of Fame include: John Barry '62, Joseph von Ehr '74, Joseph Miko '51, Michael Collins '77, and Ian MacNeill '97. The Stags participate in the MAAC conference like the majority of the other Fairfield programs. For three straight years (07-09) the men have been recognized as part of the NCAA Academic Performance Program. The program has seen a resurgence since the hiring of John Sagnelli, formerly a coach at the University of New Haven, in 2007. Last year the men's team placed 5th in the MAAC up two spots from 7th in 2008 and 9th in 2007.Football
The now defunct Fairfield Stags football team competed in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I-AA between 1996 and 2003. Following the team's inaugural season, the 1997 team recorded the second-best single-season turnaround in Division I-AA history posting a 7-3 mark. The Stags won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference title in 1998 posting a 9-2 record and head coach Kevin Kiesel
Kevin Kiesel
- References :...
captured the league's Coach of the Year Award. Fairfield also had the top-rated Division I-AA defense for rushing (61.7 y.p.g.) and for total yards (213.8 y.p.g.). The 1999 team also went 9-2 and ranked fifth among the nation's Division I-AA non-scholarship teams. The defense was ranked second for scoring defense (13.4 p.p.g) and for total defense (237.7 y.p.g.). The 2000 team compiled an 8-2 record and ranked seventh in the country.
In total, seven Fairfield players earned All-American honors, and one player received Academic All-American honors. During the 2000 season, senior Steve Dogmanits (Fairfield's all-time leader in interceptions with 21) set a school-standard of 11. This was enough to lead all of Division I-AA, just missing the national record (12) set in 1987 by Dean Cain
Dean Cain
Dean Cain is an American actor. He is most widely known for his role as Clark Kent/Superman in the popular American television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.-Early life:...
of Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
and "Lois & Clark" fame.
Lacrosse
The Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse team competes in the ECAC Lacrosse LeagueECAC Lacrosse League
The ECAC Lacrosse League is an NCAADivision I college athletic conference and part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference. This part of the conference only sponsors men's lacrosse. The league was founded in 2000...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
Lessing Field
Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...
on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. The team was nationally ranked in 2005 (15th), 2006 (20th) and 2007 (12th) and competed in the NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament
NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top men's field lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
in 2002
2002 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
In the 2002 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse National Championship game, Syracuse defeated Princeton by a score of 13-12. The game was a rematch of the 2001 championship game, which was won by Princeton. This time, Syracuse was victorious, led by Michael Powell's four goals and three assists.-...
and 2005
2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
The 2005 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Tournament was the 35th annual Division I NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship tournament. Sixteen NCAA Division I college men's lacrosse teams met after having played their way through a regular season, and for some, a conference tournament...
. The Stags also won the ECAC Tournament in 1998 and 1999 and were Conference Regular Season Champions in the MAAC three times (1996–1998) and the GWLL
Great Western Lacrosse League
The Great Western Lacrosse League, also known as the GWLL, was a NCAA Division I men's college lacrosse athletic conference that existed from 1994 to 2009...
twice (2002 and 2005). Individually, C. J. Kemp
C. J. Kemp
C. J. Kemp was a professional lacrosse player with the Rochester Rattlers and Baltimore Bayhawks of Major League Lacrosse and an All-American goalkeeper at Fairfield University.-Professional:...
in 2002 and Greg Downing
Greg Downing
Greg Downing is a professional lacrosse player with the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse and with the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League. He was selected to participate in the 2008 and 2009 MLL All-Star Games.-International:Downing is a member of the U.S. Indoor Lacrosse Men’s...
in 2005, 2006 and 2007 earned All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by 2004 MAAC Coach of the Year Andrew Copelan
Andrew Copelan
Andrew Copelan is the head coach of the Fairfield Stags men's lacrosse team.Previously, Copelan was an Assistant Coach and Offensive Coordinator at the Maryland Terrapins from 2006 to 2008...
.
Soccer
The Fairfield Stags men's soccer team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
Lessing Field
Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...
on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. The team was ranked nationally in 1998 (24th), 2000 (15th), 2001 (12th), 2005 (24th), 2006 (15th) and 2007 (17th) and competed in the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
in 1999, 2006
2006 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2006 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup Final Four was held at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. All the other games were played at the home field of the higher-seeded...
, and 2008
2008 Division I Men's College Cup
The 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship was a tournament of 48 teams from NCAA Division I who played for the NCAA Championship in soccer. The College Cup for the final four teams was held at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. All the other games were played at the home field of the...
. The 2006 team advanced to the second round in the NCAA Tournament after defeating in-state rival University of Connecticut, 2-1. The team also won the MAAC Championship Tournament in 1999, 2006 and 2008. Individually, eleven players have earned Regional All-American honors including Mark Longwell '82 who was the first Stag to go on to play for the United States men's national soccer team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and major professional soccer for the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Stags are currently coached by 1998 NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
New England Coach of the Year Carl Rees
Carl Rees
Carl Rees is the head coach of the Fairfield Stags men's soccer team where he was the 1998 NSCAA New England Coach of the Year and the 1998 and 2011 MAAC Coach of the Year. Rees is the Director of Coaching for Everton America, an official partner of Everton FC of the English Premier League...
.
Basketball
The Fairfield Stags women's basketball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Arena at Harbor Yard
Arena at Harbor Yard
The Webster Bank Arena is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena at 600 Main Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut, built alongside The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. The Arena opened on October 10, 2001 and is managed by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Centerplate...
in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Under former coach Diane Nolan, who reached her milestone 500th win in 2006, the Stags competed in the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1988
1988 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-Mideast Regional - Athens, GA :-East Regional - Norfolk, VA :-Midwest Regional - Austin, TX :-Final Four - Tacoma, WA :-References:...
, 1991
1991 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-West Regional - Las Vegas, NV:-East Regional - Philadelphia, PA:-Midwest Regional - Austin, TX:-Final Four - New Orleans, LA :-References:...
, 1998
1998 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1998 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament began on March 13, 1998 and concluded on March 29, 1998 when Tennessee won the national title. The Final Four was held at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri on March 27 - March 29, 1998. Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, NC State, and Arkansas...
, and 2001
2001 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament
-West Regional - Spokane, WA:-Midwest Regional - Denver, CO:-East Regional - Pittsburgh, PA:-Final Four - St. Louis, MO :-See also:* 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament* 2001 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
. Individually, Katrina Fields in 1985, Dana Pellegrino in 1987 and 1988 and Lisa Mikelic in 1991 earned All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Joe Frager, who previously coached the Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
Owls to the 2007 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Title
NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship
Division II women's basketball champions for the NCAA The finals are played at St. Joseph Civic Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri.-Championships:- Schools ranked by titles :-See also:*NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship...
.
Field Hockey
The Fairfield Stags field hockey team competes in the America East ConferenceAmerica East Conference
The America East Conference is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose members are located mainly in the northeastern United States. The conference was known as the ECAC North from 1979 to 1988 and the North Atlantic Conference from the fall semester of 1988 to the end of the spring...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at University Field on the campus of Fairfield University. The team competed in the 1981 NCAA Division III EAIAW Regional Playoffs and the 2001 NCAA Women's Field Hockey Championship
NCAA Women's Field Hockey Championship
Twelve women's sports were added to the NCAA championship program for the 1981-82 school year. The first national championship events were staged November 21-November 22, 1981, in cross country and field hockey.-Division I:-Division II:-Division III:...
. The team also won the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
Regular Season Title in 1998 and the Patriot League
Patriot League
The Patriot League is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I) for a number of sports; in football, it participates in the Football Championship Subdivision...
Tournament Championship in 2001. Individually, Mary Beth Combs received the Connecticut NCAA Woman of the Year Award
NCAA Woman of the Year Award
The NCAA Woman of the Year Award was created to honor a senior female student-athlete who has distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership. Each year, ten finalists are selected from a larger pool of...
in 1993 and ten players have earned NFHCA Mideast Regional All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Jackie Kane '87.
Lacrosse
The Fairfield Stags women's lacrosse team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
Lessing Field
Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...
on the campus of Fairfield University. The team competed in the 2009 NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship
NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship
The annual NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship tournament determines the top women's lacrosse team in the NCAA Division I, Division II, and Division III....
challenging the Ivy League Champion Penn Quakers
Penn Quakers
The Penn Quakers are the athletic teams of the University of Pennsylvania. The school sponsors 27 varsity sports. The school has won three NCAA national championships in men's fencing and one in women's fencing.-Men's crew:-Football:...
before falling 10-8 in the first round. The Stags won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 and 2009 the MAAC Tournament Championship in 2001 and 2009. Individually, Kristen Coleman earned All-America Third Team in 2009; and Lauren Uhr in 2002, Beth Loffredo in 2006, Kristen Coleman in 2008, and Rebecca White in 2009 earned Regional All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by National Lacrosse Hall of Fame Inductee and 2009 MAAC Coach of the Year, Michael J. Waldvogel
Michael J. Waldvogel
Michael J. Waldvogel is a member of the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame and currently the head coach of the Fairfield University women’s lacrosse team.-Playing career:...
.
Soccer
The Fairfield Stags women's soccer team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Lessing Field
Lessing Field
Lessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...
on the campus of Fairfield University. The team has advanced five times to the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Tournament
NCAA Women's Soccer Championship
NCAA Women's Soccer Championships are divided into three divisions. This article lists NCAA Women's soccer championships.-Division I:The NCAA began conducting a Women's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1982 with a 12-team tournament...
, most recently in 2005 and 2008. The team has also won the MAAC Championship seven times (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2008). Individually, Abby Allan in 2000, Meghan King in 2004 and Ahna Johnson in 2008 earned All-America honors; Ahna Johnson in 2008 earned Academic All-America honors; Betsy Nyman in 2007 earned Regional Academic All-America honors; and Nicole Cavallaro in 2007 received Freshman All-America honors. In 2010, Brett Maron
Brett Maron
Brett Maron is an American soccer goalkeeper currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer.-Collegiate career:...
became the first former Fairfield player to sign a professional contract in the United States with the Atlanta Beat of the Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer
Women's Professional Soccer is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play on March 29, 2009. The league was composed of seven teams for its first two seasons and fielded 6 teams for the 2011 season, with continued plans for future expansion...
league. The Stags are currently coached by 2008 NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
Northeast Region Coach of the Year Jim O'Brien.
Softball
The Fairfield Stags softball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games at Alumni Softball Field on the campus of Fairfield University. The team won the MAAC Regular Season Title in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Individually, in 2003 Mellissa Santos became the 16th player in Division I history to reach 1,000 career strikeouts and is currently ranked 23rd all-time on the NCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts list
NCAA Division I Softball career strikeouts list
There are currently 64 pitchers and 59 records in the 1,000 Strikeout Club:-Progression:Shawn Andaya broke the original strikeout record by Amy Unterbrink during her 1987 campaign. Michele Granger struck out her 1,235th batter on February 22, 1993 shutting out the Northwestern Wildcats 8-0...
. And Jen Derouin in 1988 and Tara Hansen in 2006 earned Academic All-American honors. The Stags are currently coached by Julie Brzezinski who achieved her 500th career win in 2006.
Tennis
The Fairfield Stags women's tennis team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home matches at the Walsh Athletic Center Tennis Courts on the campus of Fairfield University. The Stags have earned three berths to the NCAA Women's Tennis Championship
NCAA Women's Tennis Championship
The NCAA Women's Tennis Championship is the National Collegiate Athletic Association's tennis tournament to determine the Team Championships, Singles Championships, and Doubles Championships in Women's Tennis. It was started in 1982.-2009 Division tournament:...
and have won nine MAAC Championships in program history. The Stags faced the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
during the 2004 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship, the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
during the 2009 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship and eventual National Champion Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
during the 2010 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. The Stags are currently coached by 2008 MAAC Coach of the Year Ed Paige.
Volleyball
The Fairfield Stags women's volleyball team competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic ConferenceMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference
The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the northeastern United States. MAAC teams compete in the NCAA's Division I. Most of the members are Catholic or formerly Catholic institutions; the only exception is the private but secular Rider...
of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home matches at Alumni Hall
Alumni Hall (Fairfield University)
Alumni Hall is a 2,479 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The facility opened on December 5, 1959 and is one of the earliest prestressed concrete structures of its kind ever attempted...
on the campus of Fairfield University
Fairfield University
Fairfield University is a private, co-educational undergraduate and master's level teaching-oriented university located in Fairfield, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. It was founded by the Society of Jesus in 1942, and today is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. The team was nationally ranked in 1998 (24th) and 1999 (32nd) and competed in five straight NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Tournaments
NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship
The NCAA has contested team championships in women's volleyball since 1981. The following is a list of the champions of each division with their record for the year in which they won the championship, and the runner up, city, site and other final four participants for division I...
between 1997 and 2001. The team has also won the MAAC Regular Season Title nine times (1996–2000 and 2004–2007) and the MAAC Championship Tournament five times (1997–2001). Individually, Renee O’Neill earned Academic All-American honors in 1989 and Joanne Saunders earned Regional All-American honors in 2000. The Stags are currently coached by Alija Pittenger.
Football
The 1979 Fairfield Stags football team led by All-America quarterback Craig Leach '81 played in the National Collegiate Football Association's championship game where the Stags fell 60-40 to the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The 1980 team started the season ranked #1 in the pre-season NCFA Polls.Hockey
Hockey began as a club sport with a schedule of scrimmages in 1966-67. In its first full schedule of games in 1968-69, the team finished with a 18-8-0 record and joined the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Hockey League (MIHL). The team posted a 27-0 regular season record during the 1973-74 season and captured the MIHL championship.The hockey program was elevated to varsity status for the 1974-75 season under Dr. John McCarthy and posted an 18-8-1 mark that year. The Stags were a founding member of the MAAC Hockey League in 1998, and the team’s best record in the MAAC came in 2000-2001 with a 10-14-2 mark. They posted a 275-414-28 record in varsity play, heading into the 2002-03 season. The team was disbanded by the University due to financial reasons after the 2002-03 season.
Hockey as a club sport returned to the University during the 2003-04 season. The 2004-2005 squad finished the regular season with a 12-2-1-1 regular season record and fell just a game short of the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference
Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference
The Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference or MCHC is an ACHA Division III league made up of smaller colleges, universities, and community colleges in the Northeast United States.-Format:...
(MCHC) championship. The 2003-2004 squad finished their season in second place and made it all the way to the league championship. And the 2005-2006 Stags posted a 20-4-0-0 record in the and reached the league semifinals for the third straight season. The 2007-2008 club finished with an overall record of 20-9, qualifying for a trip to Rochester, Minnesota to compete in the American Collegiate Hockey Association
American Collegiate Hockey Association
The American Collegiate Hockey Association is the national governing body of non-varsity college ice hockey in the U.S. The organization provides structure, regulations, promotes the quality of play, sponsors National Awards and National Tournaments....
(ACHA) National Championships. The Stags finished their championship run with a 6-3 victory over Old Dominion, compiling a 1-3 record at the national event. And the 2009-2010 season began with the team competing in the newly formed Empire Collegiate Hockey Conference.
The home ice of Fairfield hockey is the Wonderland on Ice in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Stags currently are coached by head coach Marshall Richards and assistant coach Corey McGee.
Rugby
The Fairfield University Men's Rugby Football Club or FURFC is a men's college rugby club which competes in the Men's Collegiate Division II League of the Metropolitan New York Rugby UnionMetropolitan New York Rugby Union
The Metropolitan New York Rugby Football Union governs more than 80 men's and women's clubs, college, high-school, and youth rugby union teams in the Greater New York metropolitan area, which covers parts of the states of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. It is a member union of USA Rugby and...
. The nickname for the FURFC is the Red Ruggers. Brad Troup '03 and Will Brazier '05
Will Brazier
Will Brazier is an American rugby league footballer who plays for the United States national rugby league team, USA Falcons, Old Blue Rugby Football Club in the Rugby Super League and the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League...
were USA Rugby Collegiate All-Americans, Honorable Mention. And two former Red Ruggers represented the United States in international competition, Paul Sheehy
Paul Sheehy
Paul Sheehy was an American rugby player for the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.Sheehy also played for the Washington Rugby Football Club from 1991 to 1993 and is now a member of the Washington Rugby Football Club Hall of Fame His position of choice was fullback.Sheehy was a four year...
with the USA Eagles at the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
and Will Brazier
Will Brazier
Will Brazier is an American rugby league footballer who plays for the United States national rugby league team, USA Falcons, Old Blue Rugby Football Club in the Rugby Super League and the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League...
with the USA Tomahawks
United States national rugby league team
-2008 & 2013 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying:In October 2006, The Tomahawks were to participate in a four team Atlantic qualifying pool for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, but South Africa and the West Indies withdrew. As a result, The Atlantic qualifying pool was reduced to a single game...
and USA Falcons
USA Falcons
The USA Falcons are one of two national representative rugby union teams from the United States that compete in the North America 4 Series.-Formation:...
. The Coach of the Red Ruggers is Matt Leonard.
Spirit Team
The Spirit Team consists of the cheerleading squad, dance team, and mascot. These groups perform at all men's and women's home basketball games, as well as some other athletic contests and University events.Stags in the Stands
Stags in the Stands, founded by Marco Ambrosio '07 in 2005, is a new organization looking to bring back the intense Stag spirit of the Red Sea, the athletic fan base formed in the 1970s, when students clad in red poured into Alumni Hall and created one of the region's best home court advantages. Now run by Andrew McMahon and Frank Aquino, the Stags in the Stands student group has elevated the fan base tremendously as the Stags have see 4 of their top 10 largest crowds in 2010-2011.Basketball
- Joe DeSantis '79Joe DeSantisJoe DeSantis is currently the color commentator for the radio and TV broadcasts of Fairfield Stags men's basketball and is a member of the New England Basketball Hall of Fame...
- All-American Honorable Mention - Katrina Fields '85 - All-American Honorable Mention
- Dana D. Pellegrino '88, Two-Time All-American Honorable Mention
- Lisa A. Mikelic '91 - All-American, 4th Team
Field Hockey
- Jodie Kuczarski (NFHCA Regional All-American, 1998)
- Iza Kotowski (NFHCA Regional All-American, 1999, 2001)
- Stephanie Holland (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2000)
- Emilie Hugenholtz (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2000)
- Alexia Kennedy (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2001)
- Liz Croney (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2002)
- Dani Brown (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2002)
- Lauren Thomas (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2003)
- Lauren Pizzi (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2004)
- Rebecca Odenwaelder (NFHCA Regional All-American, 2005)
Football
- William Granata '69 (Club Football All-America, 1969)
- Craig Leach '81 (Club Football All-America, 1979)
- Thomas Meyers '82 (Club Football All-America, 1st Team, 1980, 1981)
- Robert Meyers '83 (Two Time Club Football All-America, 1st Team, 1982, 1983)
- Paul DeMarco '84 (Club Football All-America, 1st Team, 1982)
- Jim Lopusznick '00 (AP Division I-AA All-America, First Team, 2000)
- Steve Dogmanits '01 (AP Division I-AA All-America, First Team, 2001)
Lacrosse
- Spencer Steele '00Spencer SteeleSpencer Steele is a former professional lacrosse player who played with the Bridgeport Barrage and New Jersey Pride of Major League Lacrosse.-Professional career:...
- Pre-season All-American Honorable Mention - Peter Shanley '01 - Pre-season All-American Honorable Mention
- Rob Scipioni '02 - Pre-season All-American Honorable Mention
- Lauren Uhr '02 (ILWCA All-Northeast Region Second Team, 2002)
- C.J. Kemp '03 - Two-Time All-American Honorable Mention
- Peter Vlahakis '03Peter VlahakisPeter Vlahakis is a professional lacrosse player with the Long Island Lizards of Major League Lacrosse and the holder of four MLL All-Time face-off records. Vlahakis holds the MLL career face-off wins, career face-off percentage, single game face-off wins and single game face-off percentage...
- Pre-season All-American Honorable Mention - Troy Bamann '04 - Pre-season All-American Honorable Mention
- Beth Loffredo '06 (ILWCA All-Northeast Region Second Team, 2006)
- Greg Downing '07Greg DowningGreg Downing is a professional lacrosse player with the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse and with the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League. He was selected to participate in the 2008 and 2009 MLL All-Star Games.-International:Downing is a member of the U.S. Indoor Lacrosse Men’s...
- Three Time All-American Honorable Mention - Kristen Coleman '11 (womenslacrosse.com All-America Third Team, 2009)
Soccer
- Christen Veach '97 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Abby Allan '00 - NSCAA/adidas All-America Honorable Mention
- Dave Mancini '00 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Rob DeFaveri '01 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Aaron Kingi '01 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Justin Thompson '02 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Bryan Harkin '02Bryan HarkinBryan Harkin is a Northern Irish soccer player who currently plays for Crystal Palace Baltimore in the USSF Second Division.-College and amateur:...
- NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America - Billy Androutsos '05 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Alex Cunliffe '07 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Tomislav Skara '08 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Sam Bailey '08 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Matthew Uy '11 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Brett Maron '08Brett MaronBrett Maron is an American soccer goalkeeper currently playing for magicJack of Women's Professional Soccer.-Collegiate career:...
- NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America - Alex Caram '08 - NSCAA/adidas Regional All-America
- Ahna Johnson '09 - NSCAA/adidas Third Team All-America
- Nicole Cavallaro '11 - SoccerBuzz Freshman All-America Third Team
Softball
- Theresa O'Conner (NFCA Regional All-American, 1998, 2000)
- Melissa Santos (NFCA Regional All-American, 2001, 2002, 2003)
- Ellen Sarosy (NFCA Regional All-American, 2002, 2003)
- Laura Sandonato (NFCA Regional All-American, 2003)
- Tara Hansen (NFCA Regional All-American, 2005)
- Cagney Ringnalda (NFCA Regional All-American, 2005)
- Erin Frank (NFCA Regional All-American, 2006)
Rugby
- Brad Troup '03Brad TroupBrad Troup was a South African rugby league footballer who played for the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League. His position of choice was winger.-College Rugby:...
(USA Rugby Collegiate All-American, HM, 2003) - Will Brazier '05Will BrazierWill Brazier is an American rugby league footballer who plays for the United States national rugby league team, USA Falcons, Old Blue Rugby Football Club in the Rugby Super League and the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League...
(USA Rugby Collegiate All-American, HM, 2005)
Alumni Athletics Hall of Fame
The Alumni Association Athletic Hall of Fame was established in 1982 to honor those alumni who achieved excellence and distinguished themselves in Fairfield's athletic programs. Each year inductees are selected through a nomination process by the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee and honored at a Fall induction ceremony.Athletic directors
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| George Bisacca | 1964–1971 |
| Don Cook | 1972–1985 |
| Chappy Memminger | 1986–1994 |
| Gene Doris | 1995–Present |
Facilities
Principal athletic facilities include:- Webster Bank Arena (capacity: 10,000)
- Alumni Baseball DiamondAlumni Baseball DiamondAlumni Baseball Diamond is a baseball stadium in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is the home field of the Fairfield Stags baseball team representing Fairfield University....
(1,000) - Alumni HallAlumni Hall (Fairfield University)Alumni Hall is a 2,479 seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Fairfield University located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The facility opened on December 5, 1959 and is one of the earliest prestressed concrete structures of its kind ever attempted...
(capacity: 2,479) - Alumni Softball Field
- Alumni Stadium (capacity: 4,000)
- Lessing FieldLessing FieldLessing Field is a multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer stadium on the campus of Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. It is home to the Fairfield Stags men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams...
- Tennis Courts
- University Field
- Aquatics Center.
The Thomas J. Walsh Athletic Center is 51000 square feet (4,738.1 m²) structure catering to the academic and athletic needs of Fairfield student-athletes with a high-tech academic study center, practice gymnasium, state-of-the-art locker rooms for all athletic teams and a 4700 square feet (436.6 m²) weight training center.